Resources and support for schools, colleges and other professionals

Bricks for 26 - Smartphone-free schools
Just Talk guidance for schools, colleges and other professionals
Just Talk Week
Other resources and support for professionals
Promoting positive body image guidance
The Sleep Factor lesson plans & PowerPoints
Young peoples mental health in Hertfordshire - data
Communications guidance and materials
Find out how to join the Just Talk professional network

Bricks for 26 - Smartphone-free schools

Our vision is for all Hertfordshire primary schools to be smartphone-free and for secondary schools to introduce smartphone-free policies from Year 7, rolling up year by year. During the 2026-27 academic year, we will provide schools with information, guidance and resources to support implementation from 2027-28.

To join the pledge, add your signature to the letter below.

Further information about the pledge is available in the document, along with template communications to share with parents/carers.

For further information about the pledge, contact Kennedy.Taylor@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

June 2026 webinar
In June, we hosted a webinar with Clare Fernyhough (Generation Focus) and headteachers Alan Gray (Sandringham), Andy Ford (St George's) and Luke Roberts (Ashlyns) sharing their experience of going smartphone free.

Watch the webinar on YouTube covering the national evidence, new statutory guidance and practical tips for schools considering going brick phone only.

Schools signed up to the pledge:

Sandringham School
St Nicolas C of E VA Primary School
The William Ransom Primary School

Just Talk guidance for schools, colleges and other professionals

Hertfordshire Smartphone-Free Childhood pledge - Headteachers webinar (June 2026)
Schools and Colleges Toolkit 2023-24 (PDF 3.36mb)
Mental health awareness lesson plans, discussion guides and other guidance
Top tips for parents leaflet (PDF, 45mb) – how to encourage their child to talk to them about their mental health.
Anti-bullying guidance and other resources
Posters for printing and display (PDF 24Mb)

Just Talk Week

Check out the "Back to basics" resources from Just Talk Week 2023 including useful guidance for young people and adults about what to do if a young person tells you they're NOT ok.

Check out the "Look Beneath the Surface" resources from Just Talk Week 2022

These resources can be used all year round.

The Power of Small poetry competition 2024

Thank you to everyone who submitted their entries for this year's competition, the creativity and imagination demonstrated by Hertfordshire's young people was incredible.

Check out the shortlisted entries below:

Gift of Kindness poetry competition 2022

Just Talk received so many amazing entries - thanks to everyone who wrote a poem and to all the schools/colleges who submitted their winning entries.

Read the 20 shortlisted poems here.

Five Ways to Wellbeing resources, assets and e-learning

Read about our Five Ways to Wellbeing here.

Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS)

Transformation Plan for Hertfordshire 2023/24 (PPTX 1.87MB)

Other resources and support for professionals

If you're a professional working with children and young people in Hertfordshire and you'd like to know more about the services to support their emotional and mental wellbeing, subscribe to the monthly CYPMHS newletter by emailing: JustTalk@hertfordshire.gov.uk

As well as the fantastic information from our partner organisations, we'd recommend taking a look at these:

Resources

Healthy Young Minds in Herts – Hertfordshire mental health information for young people, parents and professionals
Classroom Wellbeing Toolkit from the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families - A toolkit for secondary school staff , sharing practical steps to support mental health through every day interactions with students
My Teen brain professional pages – information to help support a teen through some of the most important years of their life.
Neurodiversity Support Hub information - A hub to support parents, carers and professionals with signposting and guidance around Special Educational Needs and mental health. including a helpline.
Self-care resources from Public Health England, with activities for Year 6 and KS3 and KS4

Promoting positive body image guidance

Help young people feel positive about their body:

Useful tips and advice for managing body image and mental health from Just Talk's Real Bodies in Herts campaign
Body Image guidance and quality assured resources for professionals in schools, to promote positive body image in ALL pupils.
Body Image and social media guidance: Communications guidance to support positive body image in young people.
Help for under 18s in the UK to confidentially report sexual images and videos of themselves and remove them from the internet at:Report Remove | Childline

Webinars

Body Positivity and Preventing eating disorders in children and young people (PPT 8.8kb) (from live webinar 28 June 2021)

Body Image in children and young people (PPT 29.6kb) (from live webinar 28 June 2021)

The Sleep Factor lesson plans & PowerPoints

Young peoples mental health in Hertfordshire - data

Hertfordshire Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Surveys

Communications guidance and materials

Find out how to join the Just Talk professional network

If you're an organisation in Hertfordshire and you'd like to get involved in the Just Talk project, which has a network of more than 35 professional partners, drop us a line at: JustTalk@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

Follow us on social media